I Reincarnated as a Mob Villain in a Game World I Had Been Playing~ Using My Knowledge of the Game, I Lived a Carefree Life but for Some Reason I Became Famous Everywhere~ - Chapter 11 - The Rumored Clock Tower ②

Chapter 11 – The Rumored Clock Tower ②

“The entrance fee is as high as ever…”

The man paid 10,000 regils to the guard standing in the entrance of the clock tower and banged on its inner wall as he climbed up the clock tower…

I guess no one really goes to this place just like the players who play the game… And the guard gave me a curious look.

He went inside, but there was no sign of anyone.

If the entrance fee were set at around 2000 regils, the “subtle view” would attract more visitors to climb the clock tower, but the entrance fee was five times that amount.

Even the man who thought “This might be the last time” felt it was a waste of money.

No wonder the residents aren’t attracted.

…Well, it’s a good thing there’s no one around.

The man thought it was better than the clock tower being crowded.

“Well, let’s go up…”

He talked to himself and climbed the dozens of spiral staircases, step by step.

After a few minutes…

Once he reached the viewing platform of the clock tower—

“——!!!”

The man saw a shocking sight.

There was a person at the viewing platform.

A red-haired woman in black dress.

The woman was hiding her appearance by wearing a mask that hid the upper half of her face.

“…E-Excuse me.”

“Good day to you.”

Being alone with a stranger in a place like this can be very awkward.

Greeting her, the woman stopped looking at the scenery and returned the greeting.

The situation and the outfit of the woman were nothing but suspicious, but the elegance of the woman gave off a peculiar impression.

T-There’s no way this is the mystery character mentioned…is there?

Even if she was in fact the mysterious character, the man was wary of her.

The man moved away from her as far as possible and turned his attention to the view from the clock tower.

And at that moment.

“Do you come to this clock tower often?”

“…W-Well, sometimes.”

She looked out at the same view, and suddenly asked a question.

Although the man was obviously flustered, it was less awkward to have a conversation than to be silent with someone you had never met before.

“Well, what about you?”

Despite his poor speech, he managed to keep the conversation going.

“I come here sometimes, too. I come here sometimes to take my mind off of things.”

“I see…”

“I wouldn’t say it’s a beautiful view, but it has a certain charm to it.”

“Y-Yeah…”

I can’t relate at all…

The man didn’t say what he really thought because he didn’t want to put a damper on the atmosphere.

Sensing her sentiment, he acknowledged her comment.

“If you ask me if it’s worth 10,000 regils, I can’t say yes, though.”

“Then why come…”

“Fufu.”

She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, seemingly delighted by the man’s lighthearted remark.

It was truly amazing how much elegance she exuded from every gesture.

“It occurred to me that this is the first time I’ve talked to someone in this clock tower.”

“Well, no one’s going to come to a place like this.”

“Can I ask you something? Why did you decide to come to this place?”

“W-Well, I suppose to distract myself.”

“Fufu, was it for the same reason as mine?”

The man couldn’t say, “I could be expelled from the city tomorrow.”

Without that possibility, he would not have visited this clock tower.

“By the way… Should I not bother you or anything?”

“Do you perhaps hate me?”

“No, it was just that you said you came to take your mind off of things, so…”

“Ah, thank you for your concern. It’s nothing unpleasant, but I’m stuck on something.”

“Ho?”

Because it was their first time meeting, the man couldn’t decide whether to keep asking or not.

He kept his passive attitude, when suddenly a question was thrown at him.

“Have you heard about it? About—The man in jet-black equipment.”

“!!! *Cough, cough*…”

They were words the man didn’t expect.

The man coughed as if he was choking because saliva had entered his windpipe.

“A-Are you all right?”

“*Cough, cough*…I-I’m fine. He’s been the talk of the town lately.”

“Fufu, a lot of people are looking for him. I’m looking for him as much as I can, but he’s very good at hiding, so I haven’t made any progress…”

“Ah… I see.”

Putting aside the hiding… Wait, does it mean that this person is one of the people who are looking for me…?

At this time, the man realized that he was in a fortunate situation.

He could gather credible information.

“I’d love to meet him personally…”

It was a small whisper. The voice was audible only in the clock tower.

“Hmm? Meet him…? Did that person do something wrong?”

“Definitely now! We are not searching for him for that reason.”

“I see…”

At this moment, all the anxiety the man had fizzled out.

The man was relieved.

“Then why are you searching?”

“That part is confidential.”

“Then it can’t be helped.”

The fact that it was confidential made him more curious, but he could hear in her voice that she would never tell him.

Although he didn’t gather the maximum amount of information, it was enough to know that he wasn’t being searched for a bad thing.

“I hope to find him soon… Really…”

“……”

The man heard a murmur of longing in his ear.

“I’m sorry. It looks like my pick-up has come.”

Perhaps she saw the carriage from the clock tower, and she looked back at the man to say goodbye.

“Right. See you another time.”

“Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“—I’m sure there will be progress soon.”

“Fufu, I appreciate your concern. If you happen to be that person, I won’t forgive you for teasing me, though.”

“H-Haha…”

Perhaps because the man said something with a hidden meaning, the woman returned it with a joke, and he looked at her back as she left with a wry smile.

＊＊＊＊

“We’ve to pick you up, Sister.”

“Oh my! Karen came to pick me up today. Thank you.”

“Thanks to that person, I can walk now~”

Since her foot healed, Karen’s days have really brightened up.

Underneath the clock tower, in the presence of the man who had created such an opportunity, such a heartwarming exchange was taking place.